Gemara Clarity

Yoma 61b

יומא ס״א ע״ב

Learn Yoma 61b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Yoma 61b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Replacing an אשם מצורע slaughtered שלא לשמה, how its blood is collected, and what happens to replaced יום הכפורים animals

Overview

An אשם מצורע that was slaughtered שלא לשמה still goes on the מזבח, but it does not make the מצורע pure. רבי יוחנן says that whether he can bring a second אשם depends on an argument between רבי מאיר, who starts over, and רבי אלעזר and רבי שמעון, who continue from where they stopped. רב חסדא objects that the פסוק says 'אותו', so no replacement should work for anyone, and the גמרא admits this is a difficulty. A ברייתא saying the מצורע 'needs another אשם' seems to support רבי יוחנן. רב חסדא reads 'needs' as 'he needs one but has no remedy', and the גמרא backs this reading from בית שמאי's ruling about a bald נזיר, as רבי אבינא explains it. רבי פדת disagrees with that reading and compares בית שמאי to רבי אלעזר, who lets the blood go on the spot of a missing thumb. Next, a ברייתא teaches that two כהנים catch the blood of the אשם מצורע: one in his hand for the מצורע, and one in a כלי for the מזבח. The גמרא then returns to יום הכפורים animals whose blood spilled and were replaced, and quotes a dispute over which of them are burned at the בית הדשן. Finally, רבא asks רב נחמן how many goats are sent to עזאזל, and רבא's reply continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

אֲשַׁם מְצוֹרָע שֶׁשְּׁחָטוֹ שֶׁלֹּא לִשְׁמוֹ —

A leper's guilt-offering that he slaughtered not for its own sake —

בָּאנוּ לְמַחְלוֹקֶת רַבִּי מֵאִיר

we have arrived at the dispute of Rabbi Meir

וְרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר וְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן.

and Rabbi Elazar and Rabbi Shimon.

רַבִּי מֵאִיר, דְּאָמַר

Rabbi Meir, who said

The steps (19)

  1. StatementThe case depends on an earlier argument
  2. Statementרבי מאיר: bring another animal
  3. Statementרבי אלעזר and רבי שמעון: no remedy
  4. Challengeרב חסדא: the verse says 'it'
  5. ConclusionThe objection stands
  6. ProofA ברייתא supports רבי יוחנן
  7. Rejectionרב חסדא's reading: he needs it but has no fix
  8. ChallengeWould a תנא say 'needs' when he means 'no remedy'?
  9. ResolutionYes: the bald נזיר shows 'needs' can mean 'no remedy'
  10. Statementרבי פדת reads בית שמאי differently
  11. ProofSource for רבי אלעזר: putting blood on the spot of a missing thumb
  12. StatementThe blood for the מצורע is caught in the כהן's hand
  13. StatementThe blood for the מזבח still needs a vessel
  14. ConclusionTwo כהנים collect the blood: one by hand, one in a vessel
  15. StatementA משנה elsewhere: all the replaced animals are burned
  16. StatementThe חכמים: only the last animal is burned there
  17. Questionרבא asks how many goats are sent away
  18. Responseרב נחמן: Do you send a whole flock?
  19. Questionרבא begins to explain his question